Fruit tree genetic resources and disease resistance
- Populer, C. , Lateur, M. & Wagemans, C. (1998). Fruit tree genetic resources and disease resistance. BASE: Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement, 2: (1),
| Type | Journal Article |
| Year | 1998 |
| Title | Fruit tree genetic resources and disease resistance |
| Journal | BASE: Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement |
| Recnumber | 74 |
| Volume | 2 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Endnote Keywords | plant genetic resources|gene banks|disease resistance|fruit crops|plant diseases|apples|pears|plums|collections|cultivars|landraces|plant pathology| |
| Abstract | Since 1975, the Plant Pathology Station at Gembloux has been collecting fruit tree cultivars which were formerly grown in Belgium. The number of accessions is now over 2500, mostly of apples, pears and plums, all of which are planted in the open on dwarfing or semi-dwarfing rootstocks. One-third of the material was recovered from old, often endangered collections in horticultural schools and to a lesser extent from collections abroad, and two-thirds from old orchards on farms and in gardens. A preference was given to material originating in Belgium, either as landraces or as cultivars produced by recognized breeders from the past two centuries. The initial aim, which is still a priority, was to evaluate a broad range of old cultivars for useful characters, with an emphasis on disease resistance. As the collection expanded, a conservation objective also developed. From 1985 on, the Station started to reintroduce into the nursery trade and to recommend for home growing the better cultivars emerging from the evaluation. So far, 10 apples, 4 plums and 1 peach have been released. Corresponding technical leaflets were also produced. The project has had a multiple social impact ever since the outset. Both the collecting work and reintroduction process were a wide success with the public, which led a number of commercial growers to experiment with some of the recommended apple cultivars. As a further step in the utilization of genetic resources, the Station since 1988 has been producing several thousand hybrid seedlings annually from interesting old apple cultivars with the aim of creating new material of commercial value with low disease susceptibility. |
| Notes | Cited Reference Count: 32 ref. Conference paper, Journal article French |
| Author address | Station de Phytopathologie, Centre de Recherches Agronomiques de Gembloux, Chemin de Liroux 4, B-5030 Gembloux, Belgium. |
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| Authors | Populer, C., Lateur, M., Wagemans, C. |
